Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jun 13: The government has once again extended the deadline for completion of works under the Mangaluru Smart City project, this time until December 2025. Initially scheduled to be completed by March 31, the project deadline has already seen multiple extensions. With major projects such as the Netravati River waterfront development and the Sultan Battery–Bengre bridge still incomplete, the extension aims to facilitate the completion of the remaining key works.

Six major works, including the Water Front Development Project, are yet to be completed, with nearly Rs 80 crore worth of works progressing at a sluggish pace. None of the districts selected for the Smart City project in the state have completed their works so far. As a result, the deadline for Mangaluru and Davanagere Smart City projects has been extended till December.

The total estimated cost of the Mangaluru Smart City project is Rs 960 crore, of which Rs 453 crore has been released by the central government and Rs 463 crore by the state. Of the 105 proposed works, key projects still in progress include the five packages under the Water Front Development, Mahakalipadpu–Morgan's Gate Road development, Padil–Pumpwell Road, Sultan Battery–Tannirbhavi Bridge, and LED lighting installations.

Several other works have already been completed, including the Clock Tower, Smart Roads, Smart Shelters, e-Toilets, ICU and surgical block at Wenlock Hospital, e-Schools, Command and Control Centre, pedestrian underpass, Mangala Stadium upgrades, lake development, and swimming pools.

Although Mangaluru was not among the first cities selected under the Smart City initiative, it was included in 2016. The original five-year completion deadline set for March 2022 was not met due to initial years being spent in confusion and lack of coordination between officials and the government. The project began to gain pace later, but the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the government to extend the deadline to March 2023, which was again not met, leading to further extensions.

"Most of the Smart City works in Mangaluru have been completed, and the remaining are in the final stages. The government has extended the deadline till December to ensure the remaining works are completed without hurdles," said Arun Prabha K S, general manager (administration), Mangaluru Smart City.